Serious Question Here About Robotics

Vanderbilt University is working on a prosthetic arm project that will
give the arm extra strength using a canister. In this canister

hydrogen peroxide reacts with iridium nuggets releasing 450 degrees of
heat/pressure. I of course think this could be adapted to general
robotics as well. I wish I could give out a link to this but it was in
a recent issue of Wired Magazine.
But my question is this reaction poisonous? Even though it takes place
inside of the canister, & iridium itself is not toxic (though some of
its compounds might be) if the steam was to get outside of the
canister I am worried that it might be toxic. If there are any
chemistry experts out there your response would be appreciated.
Joel

The iridium catalyzes the decomposition of
hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water and
oxygen:
2 H2O2 2 H2O + O2
Neither water nor oxygen are poisonous.
However, this is an exothermic (heat producing)
reaction, and hot, concentrated oxygen can be
very dangerous.
Concentrated H2O2 can also be very dangerous.
Contact with a fuel source can lead to immediate
combustion, even at room temperature. Even at
low concentration, it can damage human tissue
with prolonged exposure.

Concentrations of H2O2 that are useful for doing work are really nasty
stuff -- I don't think it's poisonous per se, but it'll pretty much
dissolve flesh on contact.
We're not talking about 3% H2O2 solutions sold for cleaning here...

Oh yes, I realized that H2O2 was corrosive & should not come into
contact with skin. Thanks for the responses btw. Upon further
investigation I found a very good article about this on the Vanderbilt
web page. This canister process was derived from space shuttle
maneuvering thrusters, & from all indications it puts out steam that
is not toxic. Hot but not toxic.
Now I am searching for info about these thrusters used on the shuttle,
so I will search around aerospace groups & pages. But let me just
comment again that this should be a huge advance for robotics.
Joel

It was an early component in a lot of jet fuels, including the infamous
jet packs. You know, those things that sometimes blew up the pilot?!
"Toxicity" is a subjective term. While the word toxic is often used in
reference to a poison, it can also refer to anything harmful to the
body. As noted highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide reacts viloently to
many materials, including organic materials, and several kinds of
metals. At certain high concentrations its vapor can spontaneously
denotate in just air. Making "freakin' dangerous" is a better term than
"toxic"!
-- Gordon

H2O2 "Toxic" is waking up at the beach with a serious tequela
hangover and noticing that some cute girls have somehow turned
you into a "peroxide blond".
http://www.canosoarus.com/07RocketBelt/Rocket09.htm

In addition to steam, it also puts out concentrated
oxygen. If operated in a poorly ventilated area, the
oxygen could build up to very dangerous levels. As
oxygen climbs beyond its normal 20%, the flash
point goes down and the combustion temperature
goes up. Fires start much easier, and spread
with explosive speed.

I don't understand why you think this is a good idea.
There are many other substances that have much
higher energy density, are far cheaper, and are safer
to handle. Like gasoline.

Nor I. The properties and applications as a propellant (and otherwise)
of hydrogen peroxide is well known, some two centuries old. It's not
more used in commercial products because it's a lawsuit waiting to
happen. Industry is trying to make things safer, not generate more
liability claims for personal injury and wrongful death suits.
Researchers need to be thinking in terms of SAFETY. The best, niftyest
product in the world is useless if it's inherently unsafe.
-- Gordon

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